Subtitled: A Nightmare. Written by G. K. Chesterton it is an account of a man whose world turns upsidedown, where men put on disguises only to become trapped by the very clothes they wear. The story is of Garbriel Syme who becomes enlisted by a special anti-anarchist department of the police that concerns itself with the infiltrating of anarchist groups in order to prevent their violent revolt. It is an adventure story about the nature of anarchy.

To defeat these groups this new policeman must become an anarchist: this is one of the first paradoxes to encounter in this puzzling book layered with contradicting ideas and it is this one that largely underpins it all. Another one includes the best way for an anarchist to disguise himself is to dress up like an anarchist.

The paradoxes become one of the book's strongest points as it allows the story to be whimsical, fantastic and even nonsense while being acutely insightful to a sometimes profound degree. Its plot twists can be occasionally predictably but this makes the ending no less surprising and thoughtful. Every other sentence is enjoyable to read as small paradoxical and quick metaphysical conceits abound; which makes it as poetic as it is exciting.

A real problem with the characters, however, is that they are far too many in one gender; women apparently do not become anarchists or have much interest in politics, but then maybe they are too sensible not to get caught up in childish philosophical fads.

To give you an idea of what G. K. C was like when he lived I'll quote you what he wrote to a national newspaper in a letter when they ask the public the question: 'What is wrong with the world?', he simply replied: 'I am'.

It's farcical, mad, mystical and wise; and it might even make you think differently about how the world works.